Milwaukee Family associate Peter Picciurro passed away

[Patrickgold]

I wonder what sources the FBI had inside of Milwaukee in later decades. Obviously the Family was dwindling but they hadn't had Maniaci since the 1970s. They had at least one other member source who continued to provide info after Maniaci was killed but if it's one of the candidates I think it was they may have been dead or out of the picture.

I doubt Milwaukee was rebuilding in any significant way but I'm also not sure the FBI had sources who were able to tell them about inductions, etc. in the 1980s and 90s. We've seen in other small Families who had limited sources that the FBI's info completely dries up when those sources die or become inactive.

I’m not one to say “since there has been no arrests then there is no viable family” but with Milwaukee I just don’t see it. I believe there was an organization in the 90s even after Frank B died but there is literally nothing to say there was anything going on in the 2000s. Obviously there are still bookies in the city but it is my belief that Frank B really destroyed the family by not making more members. Peter Pitch could have been made after 93 but I highly doubt it. Peter Frank Balistrieri was the last official boss and he died in 1997. I know the FBI followed Joe and John Balistrieri around in the 1990s but never connected them to anything.

Rockford to me is a different story bc they literally had no reason to disband bc there top leadership was never indicted and also the fact that they had a gambling indictment in the 2000s which showed that they were still active. And those guys that were indicted are still alive.

[B.]

Yeah I'm not sure what Scott's basis would be for identifying Picciurro as the boss or even a member in recent years, I'm just referring to general intel from the 1980s onward. If Milwaukee did induct a handful of new members during the 1980s-90s I'm not sure what sources the FBI had who could have identified them. Outside of examples like Madison where they voted to disband, I'm hesitant to assume these small Families stopped inducting members altogether without definitive info saying so, though I also strongly believe most of these small Families were fading out quickly regardless of what they did or didn't do.

[Patrickgold]

Yeah I'm not sure what Scott's basis would be for identifying Picciurro as the boss or even a member in recent years, I'm just referring to general intel from the 1980s onward. If Milwaukee did induct a handful of new members during the 1980s-90s I'm not sure what sources the FBI had who could have identified them. Outside of examples like Madison where they voted to disband, I'm hesitant to assume these small Families stopped inducting members altogether without definitive info saying so, though I also strongly believe most of these small Families were fading out quickly regardless of what they did or didn't do.

Yes you’re right. There was basically no inside sources inside Milwaukee after the 70s so it’s impossible to know who was inducted, if anyone was. The FBI still thought something was going on bc they were still tailing members into the 1990s but with little success. Peter Balistrieri always interested me and there is very little about him. He was the boss, at least acting, from the time Frank went to jail in the 1980s until his death in 1997. The FBI did not put a lot of resources into Milwaukee and most of the indictments happened from outside investigations (Strawman and Donnie Brasco).

The source I used for Frank B not inducting new members was from the Donnie Brasco operation. Frank B told Pistone that most of his members were old and that they could use some young blood. That surprises me bc Milwaukee had a decent size Italian population. Not sure why he didn’t cultivate the talent he had in Milwaukee.

[Pogo The Clown]

Right. So the FBI was only able to develop informants during the time of the Mary Ferrell documents (1960s) and once those specific guys died they were left completely in the dark as to what was going on with the small families across the country. So Omertà was only broken during the 1960s and as the FBI’s sophistication, resources, institutional knowledge and pressure against LCN nationwide skyrocketed in the 1980s and 1990s guys suddenly decided to keep their mouths shut and observe the code of silence. The Feds were just guessing when they made their assessments of said families in 1985, 1992, 1993, 2006, etc.


Also the whole Peter Picciurro thing originated with a poster named MilwaukeeVince all the way back in 2003. He put out fake charts with Joe Caminitti as Boss (he died in 1995), one of the Balistrieri sons as UnderBoss, the other as a “too advisor” (remind you of anyone), Picciurro as Consigliere, 3 Captains and up to 40 made members in Milwaukee. From there it spread to the other websites and eventually Wikipedia. Not surprised to see “per sources” run with the fake info and up the ante with Picciurro now being the “Godfather” of the Milwaukee Mob and a “Mafia power” in Milwaukee.

Rockford to me is a different story bc they literally had no reason to disband bc there top leadership was never indicted and also the fact that they had a gambling indictment in the 2000s which showed that they were still active. And those guys that were indicted are still alive.

Sorry to burst your bubble but the prosecutor and the police chief on that 2006 gambling case openly said it was not an LCN operation.


In the middle of the second page.


https://history.rockfordpubliclibrary.o ... y/?p=51867

[Patrickgold]

Right. So the FBI was only able to develop informants during the time of the Mary Ferrell documents (1960s) and once those specific guys died they were left completely in the dark as to what was going on with the small families across the country. So Omertà was only broken during the 1960s and as the FBI’s sophistication, resources, institutional knowledge and pressure against LCN nationwide skyrocketed in the 1980s and 1990s guys suddenly decided to keep their mouths shut and observe the code of silence. The Feds were just guessing when they made their assessments of said families in 1985, 1992, 1993, 2006, etc.


Also the whole Peter Picciurro thing originated with a poster named MilwaukeeVince all the way back in 2003. He put out fake charts with Joe Caminitti as Boss (he died in 1995), one of the Balistrieri sons as UnderBoss, the other as a “too advisor” (remind you of anyone), Picciurro as Consigliere, 3 Captains and up to 40 made members in Milwaukee. From there it spread to the other websites and eventually Wikipedia. Not surprised to see “per sources” run with the fake info and up the ante with Picciurro now being the “Godfather” of the Milwaukee Mob and a “Mafia power” in Milwaukee.

Rockford to me is a different story bc they literally had no reason to disband bc there top leadership was never indicted and also the fact that they had a gambling indictment in the 2000s which showed that they were still active. And those guys that were indicted are still alive.

Sorry to burst your bubble but the prosecutor and the police chief on that 2006 gambling case openly said it was not an LCN operation.


In the middle of the second page.


https://history.rockfordpubliclibrary.o ... y/?p=51867

Considering it was originally tied to the family secrets trial before it was decided to be tried separately, I’m going to go out of limb and say it was an LCN operation. Not to mention more than a couple of those names were identified as LCN associates. Joe Saladino himself was indicted. You know who that is right? If Scully couldn’t prove they were part of the Chicago Outfit, which they are not, then he’s not going to risk a mistrial over proving something he can’t. The fact that it says that they traced the operation to at least 1980 should be a clue. Was there a Rockford family in 1980?

Was the Sarno indictment a LCN case? The reason I ask because that terminology was not used in the trial. Only criminal enterprise. Kind of like the Rockford operation

[Snakes]

The FBI wasn't all-knowing, even by the mid-80s and especially when it came to Chicago. After the casino skim trial, they still carried the wrong boss (Ferriola) and the actual boss (Carlisi) wasn't even I'D as a member until a couple years into his reign. The FBI also carried Rockford as a crew in Chicago in the 1980s and not an independent family.

If they can be that inaccurate with Chicago, I would think they could be inaccurate with a weakened family like Milwaukee, especially after some of those member sources B identified died off.

[Pogo The Clown]

Considering it was originally tied to the family secrets trial before it was decided to be tried separately, I’m going to go out of limb and say it was an LCN operation. Not to mention more than a couple of those names were identified as LCN associates. Joe Saladino himself was indicted. You know who that is right? If Scully couldn’t prove they were part of the Chicago Outfit, which they are not, then he’s not going to risk a mistrial over proving something he can’t. The fact that it says that they traced the operation to at least 1980 should be a clue. Was there a Rockford family in 1980?

Again that is directly from the horses mouth. I know you so desperately want to believe in a Rockford family hanging on into this century and up to today but the facts (and common sense) don’t bare that out.

The FBI wasn't all-knowing,

No one said they were but their intelligence gathering and infiltration of LCN in the 1980s and 1999s was vastly more extensive and superior than it was in the 1960s. The mid 80s into the 2000s was when they were at their peak in infiltrating and dismantling the mob so the idea that no news source of intel were established in that period to replace the ones lost from the 1960s doesn’t hold water.


From 1983-1986 alone the Feds indicted 2,500 members and associates across the country. Night and day compared to the numbers for 1960-1969. So yeah they weren’t hurting for CIs.


Pogo

[Patrickgold]

Considering it was originally tied to the family secrets trial before it was decided to be tried separately, I’m going to go out of limb and say it was an LCN operation. Not to mention more than a couple of those names were identified as LCN associates. Joe Saladino himself was indicted. You know who that is right? If Scully couldn’t prove they were part of the Chicago Outfit, which they are not, then he’s not going to risk a mistrial over proving something he can’t. The fact that it says that they traced the operation to at least 1980 should be a clue. Was there a Rockford family in 1980?

Again that is directly from the horses mouth. I know you so desperately want to believe in a Rockford family hanging on into this century and up to today but the facts (and common sense) don’t bare that out.

The FBI wasn't all-knowing,

No one said they were but their intelligence gathering and infiltration of LCN in the 1980s and 1999s was vastly more extensive and superior than it was in the 1960s. The mid 80s into the 2000s was when they were at their peak in infiltrating and dismantling the mob so the idea that no news source of intel were established in that period to replace the ones lost from the 1960s doesn’t hold water.


From 1983-1986 alone the Feds indicted 2,500 members and associates across the country. Night and day compared to the numbers for 1960-1969. So yeah they weren’t hurting for CIs.


Pogo

Since you seem to be an expert on FBI investigations in Rockford can please explain how many FBI agents were assigned to the Rockford area throughout the years? How many investigations panned out for the FBI in Rockford? Indictments? Convictions? So Rockford was a crew of Chicago or an independent family? The fact is the FBI barely dedicated any resources to Rockford and that is why the FBI doesn’t even know if Rockford is a crew or its own family. Unfortunately for you, the FBI is in the dark when it comes to Rockford like the rest of us.

Dominic Iasperra, the same guy you quoted as saying that the gambling ring that started in 1980, when there definitely was a Rockford LCN organization per your sources but some how in 2006 the organization was completely independent of any LCN ties even though the organization was discovered through a LCN investigation in Chicago, destroyed Rockford LCN files and also testified at the family secrets trial saying that Joe Saladino, one of the indicted, was a LCN associate in the Rockford area. I know you want to make it look like I’m grasping at straws here but the truth is that you are.

[Pogo The Clown]

Again bring up all the red herrings you want but the prosecutor in that case said it outright. It was not an LCN operation and whatever ties it had to LCN it was to Chicago and not some mythical Rockford family.


Pogo

[Patrickgold]

Again bring up all the red herrings you want but the prosecutor in that case said it outright. It was not an LCN operation and whatever ties it had to LCN it was to Chicago and not some mythical Rockford family.


Pogo

They said they couldn’t connect it with a higher organized crime organization which to me means they couldn’t connect it to be part of the Chicago Outfit. They were their own organization. They couldn’t prove it just like the Feds couldn’t prove Mike Sarno was part of a LCN organization and decided not to you use the terminology.

[Wiseguy]

Burnstein strikes again!

Seriously though, nobody is claiming there's still a Rockford family today, right?

[Cheech]

I saw Scott B. already put the death on his website and claims he was boss. As I said earlier, he probably was never made. Surprised Scott B puts internet rumors up. There is no evidence on what he put. He said FBI sources. Would love to know the sources

Im surprised you're surprised.

[UTC]

Not really directly relevant but I find these informal blogs interesting sometimes. https://dbridgerhot.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... d-two.html

[UTC]

I would guess that in the latter days several Chicago CIs would have had information on Milwaukee, and they frequented Sally Papia's places in the Milwaukee area. Sally, once described by Frankie Bal as "a friggin' Outfit associate wannabe in a skirt", as well as her daughter Candy, were not the most discreet individuals around.

[cavita]

Considering it was originally tied to the family secrets trial before it was decided to be tried separately, I’m going to go out of limb and say it was an LCN operation. Not to mention more than a couple of those names were identified as LCN associates. Joe Saladino himself was indicted. You know who that is right? If Scully couldn’t prove they were part of the Chicago Outfit, which they are not, then he’s not going to risk a mistrial over proving something he can’t. The fact that it says that they traced the operation to at least 1980 should be a clue. Was there a Rockford family in 1980?

Again that is directly from the horses mouth. I know you so desperately want to believe in a Rockford family hanging on into this century and up to today but the facts (and common sense) don’t bare that out.

The FBI wasn't all-knowing,

No one said they were but their intelligence gathering and infiltration of LCN in the 1980s and 1999s was vastly more extensive and superior than it was in the 1960s. The mid 80s into the 2000s was when they were at their peak in infiltrating and dismantling the mob so the idea that no news source of intel were established in that period to replace the ones lost from the 1960s doesn’t hold water.


From 1983-1986 alone the Feds indicted 2,500 members and associates across the country. Night and day compared to the numbers for 1960-1969. So yeah they weren’t hurting for CIs.


Pogo

Since you seem to be an expert on FBI investigations in Rockford can please explain how many FBI agents were assigned to the Rockford area throughout the years? How many investigations panned out for the FBI in Rockford? Indictments? Convictions? So Rockford was a crew of Chicago or an independent family? The fact is the FBI barely dedicated any resources to Rockford and that is why the FBI doesn’t even know if Rockford is a crew or its own family. Unfortunately for you, the FBI is in the dark when it comes to Rockford like the rest of us.

Dominic Iasperra, the same guy you quoted as saying that the gambling ring that started in 1980, when there definitely was a Rockford LCN organization per your sources but some how in 2006 the organization was completely independent of any LCN ties even though the organization was discovered through a LCN investigation in Chicago, destroyed Rockford LCN files and also testified at the family secrets trial saying that Joe Saladino, one of the indicted, was a LCN associate in the Rockford area. I know you want to make it look like I’m grasping at straws here but the truth is that you are.

I will say this:

When the article came out about the 2006 gambling bust, authorities said it wasn't tied to a larger criminal operation. When I attended the plea/sentencing hearings months later, the prosecuting U.S. attorney kept referencing the Family Secrets case and the Chicago Outfit. Judge Reinhard verbally bashed the attorney repeatedly that this case couldn't be tied to the Family Secrets operation because Frank Saladino died and that severed it from Family Secrets.

When I started researching the Rockford family, I inherited two boxes of files from an investigative reporter who was moving out of town and I spoke at length with him about the family. He said Dominic Iasparro was a liason between street gang members and the Rockford LCN- he would pick up protection money from gang leaders to pass to the LCN often making the pickups behind a convenience store on Kishwaukee Street. Some of this info came from a gang leader who was eventually deported after he stopped paying protection money. I also spoke with two deputies who had said Iasparro was "the mob's man," in their words. It is no surprise he was one of those (that admitted in the newspaper) that he helped destroy police files on the Rockford LCN in the early 1980s and it's no surprise he would say there was no LCN in Rockford.

Soon after Family Secrets came out and tied Rockford to that case, a retired Sheriff's deputy wrote a letter to that investigative reporter and outlined all kinds of corruption within the department and spoke of Joe Saladino, calling him a "field lieutenant with the mob." That letter was written in 2005. Now the Rockford LCN may be defunct but I will tell you Joe is a made guy and is acknowledged by people in Rockford as a leader, but a leader of what- maybe just illegal gambling but he and the rest of those guys are respected and people are afraid of them. Maybe they're trading off that fear from the old glory days, but it still works with some people.